Tire-armor.



W. A. MIX.

TIRE ARMOR. APPLICATION FILED 00T.14, 1907.

Patented Dec, l, 1908.

Q I wvewlof? LZZL mnw akten/go WILLIAM A. MIX, OF WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTA.

TIRE-ARMOR.

Specification o1' Letters Patent.

| Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application led October 14, 1907. Serial No. 397,406.

v To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that` I, WILLIAM A. MIX, al citizen of the United States, Aresiding at Walla Walla, in the county of'Walla'lWalla and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvenientsin Tire- Armors and' I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inventionJ such as will enable othersl skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to new andV useful improvements in a shoe or armor construction adapted to be applied on automobile or bicycle tires.

The object of the invention is to provide an armor of this class which will protect the tire against puncture, and prevent the wheels to which the same-is applied from slipping or skidding in passing over smooth or wet surfaces, the plates comprising the armor being of such construction and so arranged in position as to not affect the resiliency ofthe tire in the slightest degree.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, it will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention'consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, illustrated in the drawings and Vpointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure l is a side elevation of a section cfa bicycle wheel showingthe application of the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line Q-Zof Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the plates comprising t e shoe or armor; Fig. 4 is a view 1n side elevation of a series of the plates comprising the shoe or armor showing the construction,

preferably employed when the invention is `to be applied to an automobile tire; Fig. 5 is `a detai perspective view of one of the plates f shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, which'are for illustrative prposesonly, and, therefore, are Vnot drawn to any particular scale, 1 indicates a vehicle wheel, and 2a pneumatic tire applied thereon, on whichv is arranged a shoe or armor 3, to prevent uncturin of- 'the tire and to eliminate liab' ity of ski dinger sliding when the wheel is passing over smoother vet surfaces. r Thefarmor com rises'a pluility of overlapping plates 4, 4o spring steel, of preferably semi-circular form in cross section, soy as to fit the outside surface of the tire in a radial position .thereonk Each of said .lates is extended'longitudinally at its midd e or vicntral portion to provide a lip 5,

and said plates are so arranged in position on the `tire as to cause their lips to overlap ortions of the adjacent plates. This over aping feature of the plates constitutes adoule covering or armor for the tire and doubly insures against puncture. Each of said plates is provided at opposite sides with i'n- Wardly extending clamping portions 6 which are curved inwardly throughout their lengths to closely iit the tire, the inner ends of the clamping portions projecting inwardly beyond the outer half of the tire to points adjacent tothe wheel rim and exerting pressure upon the tire to hold the armor againstcircumferential displacement'thereon and the individual plates comprising the armor against outward radial dis lacement While permitting relative circum'erential rocking motion of the plates to permit them to follow the tire as the same is depressed in passing over a surface in order to preserve the-maxi- Inum'resiliency of the tire.

lln carrying out the invention, the outer ends of the clamping ortions 6 of the plates 4 are provided wit central apertures 7 for the reception of rivets 8 or other suitable fastening devices, to which are connected the longitudinal slotted ends of connecting links or bars 8 for connecting the plates together. Each of said plates is also provided with a plurality of outwardly extending brads or extensions 9. When the invention is to be used in connection with bicycle tires, each of the plates is provided with two of these brads or extensions, one

being arranged slightly to each side of its- By arranging the brads 'in this' medial line.

manner, skidding or slipping of-the wheels when making short turns 1s guarded against.

When the invention is to be applied to auf tomobile tires,` the clamping -1portions 6 of the plates are apertured at two points, as at 10, to receive the ends of the; connecting links or bars, such'construction being employed to add greater strength to the shoe or armor. Also, in this case, the lip portions of the plates are provided with a plurality,

preferably iive or six, lof brads or extensions.'

v It is to be understoodl` that when the invention is to be applied t'o an automobile tire the plates are to` be made considerably larger. l

From theA foregoing description taken in connection lwith the drawings, it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention Will be readily comprehended without necessitating a more extended eX- o planation.

overlap a corresponding portion of the adjaf cent plate and being formed at opposite side edges with inwardly extending tire clamping portions which are curved mwardly thro ughout their entire lengths toclosely ifit the tire i the inner ends of said portionsprojecting in .wardly beyond the outer half of the tire to p points adjacent to the wheel rim and exerting pressure upon the tire to hold the armor against 'circumferential displacement thereon and the individual lates comprising the armor against outward) radial displacement wliile at the same time permitting relative circumferential rocking motion or said plates and connecting links for connecting the clamping portions of the plates.

. 'In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 'my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. MIX.

l'Vitnesses:

T. P. GosE, ARTHUR I. MoULToN. 

